University of Jordan
School of Engineering
Electrical Engineering Department
EE 219
Electrical Circuits Lab
EXPERIMENT 7
RESONANCE
Prepared by: Dr. Mohammed Hawa
EXPERIMENT 7
RESONANCE
OBJECTIVE
This experiment investigates the voltage and current relationships in series and parallel
resonant RLC circuits. Of primary importance is the establishment of the resonant frequency
and the quality factor, or Q, of the circuit with relation to the values of the R, L, and C
components.
DISCUSSION
Series Resonance
A series resonant circuit consists of a resistor, a capacitor, and an inductor in a simple loop as
shown below.
=
√
At the resonant frequency the capacitive and inductive reactances will be of the
same magnitude, and as they are 180 degrees in opposition, they effectively nullify each other.
This leaves the circuit purely resistive, the source “seeing” only the resistive element.
Consequently, the current will be at a maximum at the resonant frequency. At any higher or
lower frequency, a net reactance (the difference between and ) must be added to the
resistor value, producing a higher impedance and thus, a lower current.
As this is a simple series loop, the resistor’s voltage will be proportional to the current.
Consequently, the resistor voltage should be a maximum at the resonant frequency and
decrease as the frequency is either increased or decreased (see phasor diagram below). At
resonance, the resistor value sets the maximal current and also has a major effect on the
“tightness” of the voltage versus frequency curve: The smaller the resistance, the tighter the
of the circuit can be defined as the ratio of the resonant reactance to the circuit resistance, =
curve and the higher the voltage seen across the capacitor and inductor. The quality factor, Q,
= = , which also corresponds to the ratio of the resonant frequency to the circuit
bandwidth, = where the bandwidth is given by = . The bandwidth is the interval
1/√2 of its maximum value. The cut-off frequencies for the series RLC circuit are given by:
between the half-power cut-off frequencies, which are the frequencies at which the current is
1 1 " " 1
= ∓ + 1+ !=∓ + +
,
2 2 2# 2# #$
6-2
VL
VR
I VL − V C
VL VL
θ V R = Vs Vs
Vs I Vs θ
VC
VC
V C − VL I
VR
VC
f < fr f = fr f > fr
Parallel Resonance
A parallel resonant circuit consists of a resistor, a capacitor, and an inductor in parallel as
shown below.
=
√
At the resonant frequency the capacitive and inductive reactances will be of the
same magnitude, and as they are 180 degrees in opposition, they effectively nullify each other.
This leaves the circuit purely resistive, the source “seeing” only the resistive element. At any
lower or higher frequency the inductive or capacitive reactance will shunt the resistance,
producing a lower impedance, and thus a higher current.
Consequently, in a parallel RLC circuit, minimum current happens at resonance (see the
following phasor diagram). The quality factor, Q, of the circuit is defined as the ratio of the
resonant susceptance to the circuit conductance, = % = = "$ , which also corresponds
to the ratio of the resonant frequency to the circuit bandwidth, = where the bandwidth is
given by = .
6-3
The bandwidth is again the interval between the half-power cut-off frequencies, which are the
frequencies at which the current is √2 of its minimum value. The cut-off frequencies for the
parallel RLC circuit are given by:
1 1 1 1 1
= ∓ + 1+ !=∓ + +
,
2 2 2"$ 2"$ #$
Lissajous curve
In addition to the possibility of displaying two signals versus time, the oscilloscope can display
two signals versus each other in what is known as the X-Y mode. The resulting figure is called
a Lissajous curve, and if the two displayed signals are sinusoidal signals, the Lissajous curve
can help us measure the phase shift between the two signals depending on the eccentricity and
direction of rotation as summarized in the figure below.
6-4
PROCEDURE A – SERIES RESONANCE
1. Construct the circuit shown below. Assume that R = 820 Ω, L = 10 mH, C = 10 nF.
6000 Hz, and peak voltage of &' = 3 V.
2. Set the function generator to produce a sinusoidal waveform (AC) with frequency of
CAUTION: Some older function generators have a defect and produce an AC signal with a
slight DC shift. Hence, if you do not see a symmetric sinusoidal signal above and below zero
volts, adjust the DC offset knob slightly to force a zero DC offset in the function generator
output.
3. Use theoretical analysis to determine the voltages () , ( , ( and current * in the circuit at
for each complex quantity, and record the expected period + of the (, signal in microseconds.
the different frequencies in Tables 1, 2 and 3. Make sure to evaluate both magnitude and phase
Record the answers in the three tables?
4. What is the equation for the resonant frequency of a series RLC circuit?
....................................................................................
5. Use that above equation to find the resonant frequency in this experiment.
....................................................................................
6. What is the equation for the quality factor , and bandwidth of a series RLC circuit?
....................................................................................
7. Use the proper equations to find the frequencies and , at which the current amplitude is
approximately 0.707 times the resonant current (i.e., the half-power points).
....................................................................................
8. Use the oscilloscope to measure the peak values of the voltages (, and () and the phase
shift of () compared to (, . Remember that you can change the horizontal sweep setting of the
oscilloscope to make more accurate measurements of the phase. Record the measurements in
Table 1?
6-5
CAUTION: Whenever you change the frequency of the function generator, verify the period of
the signal from the oscilloscope to get accurate readings. Also re-check the peak-to-peak
voltage as the function generator might change the amplitude when you change the frequency.
9. Set the oscilloscope to work in the X-Y mode. At the frequency of 6000 Hz, draw what you
see on the oscilloscope screen.
10. Remember that the voltage () across the resistor is directly proportional to (and has the
same phase shift as) the current * in the circuit. Adjust the frequency of the function generator
curve) to find the frequency at which (, and () (i.e, the current *) have the same phase shift.
in small increments, up and down, and use the oscilloscope in the X-Y mode (i.e., Lissajous
This is the experimental resonance frequency. Record this frequency value in Table 1.
11. Draw what you see on the oscilloscope screen at the resonant frequency in the X-Y mode.
12. Switch the oscilloscope from the X-Y mode to show the time-domain signals (, and ()
again. Notice that the voltage () has the maximum possible value at the resonance frequency.
Record this peak voltage value in Table 1.
13. Now start changing the frequency of the function generator above and below the resonance
amplitude of approximately 0.707 times the resonant voltage () (i.e., the half-power points).
frequency until the experimental frequencies and are found. These will occur at a voltage
Record such frequencies and the corresponding voltage values in Table 1.
6-6
(, period
Table 1
∡() with (0
|(, | (peak) (V) |() | (peak) (V)
. (µs)
AC Source
Frequency (degrees)
(Hz) Theory Meas. Theory Meas. Theory Meas. Theory Meas.
6000
9000
14400
16800
30000
48000
= ______
= ______
= ______
14. Use the oscilloscope to measure the peak value of the voltage ( and its phase shift
compared to (, . To do that, swap the locations of C and R in the circuit while keeping the
oscilloscope connections unchanged, allowing you to measure ( . Record the measurements
for all frequencies in Table 2.
15. Use the oscilloscope to measure the peak value of the voltage ( and its phase shift
compared to (, . To do that, swap the locations of L and C in the circuit while keeping the
oscilloscope connections unchanged, allowing you to measure ( . Record the measurements
for all frequencies in Table 2.
∡( with (0 ∡( with (0
Table 2
AC Source |( | (peak) (V) |( | (peak) (V)
Frequency (degrees) (degrees)
(Hz) Theory Meas. Theory Meas. Theory Meas. Theory Meas.
6000
9000
14400
16800
30000
48000
= ______
= ______
= ______
16. What is the relationship between the capacitor voltage ( and inductor voltage ( at
resonant frequency?
....................................................................................
6-7
17. Consider the capacitor voltage amplitude |( |. Which one is higher |( | at resonant
frequency or |( | below resonant frequency?
....................................................................................
18. Consider the inductor voltage phase ∡( . Which one is higher ∡( at resonant frequency
or ∡( below resonant frequency? Note: In phase, consider the positive or negative signs.
....................................................................................
19. Using the values in Tables 1 and 2, evaluate the current * and total impedance of the
series RLC circuit using Ohm’s law, and record them in Table 3. Remember that the total
impedance is a complex number, so you need to find both its magnitude and phase.
|*| (peak) (mA) ∡* with (0 | | = |(, |/|*|
Table 3
∡ = ∡(, 1 ∡*
= () /" (= ∡() with (0 )
AC Source
Frequency (peak/peak) (kΩ) (degrees)
(Hz) Theory Meas. Theory Meas. Theory Meas. Theory Meas.
6000
9000
14400
16800
30000
48000
= ______
= ______
= ______
paper attached at the end of the report: (1) | | versus source frequency; (2) ∡ versus source
20. Using the measured values in Table 3, plot (by hand) the following figures using the graph
frequency; (3) * versus source frequency.
21. For the above plots, state your conclusions under the plot? Also identify the resonant
frequency and bandwidth in each plot.
PROCEDURE B –PARALLEL RESONANCE
1. Construct the circuit shown below. Assume that R = 820 Ω, L = 10 mH, C = 10 nF, and
R’ = 10 Ω. Make sure you use the correct resistor values.
6-8
6000 Hz, and peak voltage of &' = 3 V.
2. Set the function generator to produce a sinusoidal waveform (AC) with frequency of
CAUTION: Some older function generators have a defect and produce an AC signal with a
slight DC shift. Hence, if you do not see a symmetric sinusoidal signal above and below zero
volts, adjust the DC offset knob slightly to force a zero DC offset in the function generator
output.
3. Use theoretical analysis to determine the current * and the voltage () in the circuit at the
each complex quantity, and record the expected period + of the (, signal in microseconds.
different frequencies in Tables 4 and 5. Make sure to evaluate both magnitude and phase for
measure the current * using the oscilloscope. It has a small resistance compared to other
Record the answers in the two tables. The small resistor R’ was placed as a convenient way to
resistors in the circuit, which means you can neglect it in theoretical calculations.
4. What is the equation for the resonant frequency of a parallel RLC circuit?
....................................................................................
5. Use that above equation to find the resonant frequency in this experiment.
....................................................................................
6. What is the equation for the quality factor , and bandwidth of a parallel RLC circuit?
....................................................................................
7. Use the proper equations to find the frequencies and , at which the current amplitude is
approximately 1.414 = 1/0.707 times the resonant current (i.e., the bandwidth limits).
....................................................................................
8. Use the oscilloscope to measure the peak values of the voltages (, and ()2 and the phase
shift of ()2 compared to (, . Remember that you can change the horizontal sweep setting of the
oscilloscope to make more accurate measurements of the phase. Record the measurements in
Table 4?
CAUTION: Whenever you change the frequency of the function generator, verify the period of
the signal from the oscilloscope to get accurate readings. Also re-check the peak-to-peak
voltage as the function generator might change the amplitude when you change the frequency.
9. Remember that by Ohm’s law, the voltage ()2 across the resistor is directly proportional to
(and has the same phase shift as) the current * in the circuit. Adjust the frequency of the
mode (i.e., Lissajous curve) to find the frequency at which (, and ()2 (i.e, the current *) have
function generator in small increments, up and down, and use the oscilloscope in the X-Y
the same phase shift. This is the experimental resonance frequency. Record this frequency
value in Table 4.
6-9
10. Switch the oscilloscope from the X-Y mode to show the time-domain signals (, and ()2
again. Notice that the voltage ()2 has the minimum possible value at the resonance frequency.
Record this peak voltage value in Table 4.
11. Now start changing the frequency of the function generator above and below the resonance
amplitude of approximately 1.414 times the resonant voltage ()2 . Record such frequencies and
frequency until the experimental frequencies and are found. These will occur at a voltage
the corresponding voltage values in Table 4.
(, period
Table 4
∡()2 with (0
(, (peak) (V) ()2 (peak) (V)
. (µs)
AC Source
Frequency (degrees)
(Hz) Theory Meas. Theory Meas. Theory Meas. Theory Meas.
6000
9000
14400
16800
30000
48000
= ______
= ______
= ______
12. What is the relationship between the capacitor current * and inductor current * at
resonant frequency?
....................................................................................
13. Consider the capacitor current phase ∡* . Which one is higher ∡* at resonant frequency
or ∡* above resonant frequency? Note: In phase, consider the positive or negative signs.
....................................................................................
14. Consider the inductor current amplitude |* |. Which one is higher |* | at resonant
frequency or |* | above resonant frequency?
....................................................................................
15. Using the values in Table 4, evaluate the current * and total admittance 3 of the parallel
3 is a complex number, so you need to find both its magnitude and phase.
RLC circuit using Ohm’s law, and record them in Table 5. Remember that the total admittance
6-10
* (peak) (mA) ∡* with (0 |3| = |*|/|(, |
Table 5
∡3 = ∡* 1 ∡(,
= ()2 /" 4 (= ∡()2 with (0 )
AC Source
Frequency (peak/peak) (mS) (degrees)
(Hz) Theory Meas. Theory Meas. Theory Meas. Theory Meas.
6000
9000
14400
16800
30000
48000
= ______
= ______
= ______
paper attached at the end of the report: (1) |3| versus source frequency; (2) ∡3 versus source
16. Using the measured values in Table 5, plot (by hand) the following figures using the graph
frequency; (3) * versus source frequency.
17. For the above plots, state your conclusions under the plot? Also identify the resonant
frequency and bandwidth in each plot.
18. Using the measured values of (, and * in Table 5, evaluate the apparent power, real power,
and reactive power generated by the source (function generator) and record them in Table 6
below. Also find the power factor (PF) and state whether it is leading or lagging.
∡, 57 57
Table 6
AC Source |,| (mVA) 5 (mW) 6 (mVAR)
Frequency (degrees) value lead or lag
(Hz) Measured Measured Measured Measured Measured Measured
6000
9000
14400
16800
30000
48000
= ______
= ______
= ______
6-11
attached at the end of the report: 5 and 6 on the same plot versus source frequency.
19. Using the values in Table 6, plot (by hand) the following figure using the graph paper
20. For the above plot, state your conclusions under the plot?
21. At what frequency the real power 5 is minimum? Why?
....................................................................................
22. At what frequency the magnitude of the reactive power |6| is maximum? Why?
....................................................................................
** End **
6-12
